Rep. Larry Labor

Maddy summaryThis bill expands access to veteran designations on Vermont driver's licenses, identification cards, and vehicle license plates to include individuals disabled during active duty for training. It requires applicants to provide proof of veteran status, such as a Department of Defense Form 214, and have their eligibility confirmed by the Office of Veterans' Affairs before the designation appears on their credentials. The legislation also mandates that special license plates include emblems recognizing specific groups like Purple Heart recipients, Pearl Harbor survivors, former prisoners of war, and disabled veterans. These changes apply to enhanced licenses, nondriver identification cards, and vehicle registration plates for eligible veterans and active military members.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Landfill Siting Commission to identify a new landfill location in Vermont, as the current Coventry landfill is expected to operate for only 22 more years. The commission would include representatives from the legislature, governor, civil engineers, geologists, and experts on environmental justice, and must recommend at least two potential sites or determine if out-of-state waste transport is more cost-effective by January 2024. The bill also establishes a Vermont Materials Management Council to assist with long-term solid waste planning and bans disposal of certain waste types like leachate and sludge from uncertified facilities. Additionally, it creates a Landfill Closure and Planning Account funded by increased taxes on solid and hazardous waste to support closing existing landfills, planning new ones, and remediating contamination.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the State Auditor's authority to examine the financial records of any company or organization that provides services to the State of Vermont. It requires the Secretary of Administration to update administrative guidelines so that all state contracts include language allowing the State Auditor to review contractor records, and it amends state law to formally grant this examination power. The law specifies that the State Auditor can review records in any format, but only those relevant to the specific state contract being audited. These changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and apply to all contractors doing business with the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change how general election ballots are distributed in Vermont by requiring voters to request their mail-in ballots instead of receiving them automatically. It directly affects active voters on the statewide voter checklist who currently receive ballots without asking for them. The key provision amends state law to mandate that the Secretary of State's office only mails ballots upon voter request for general elections. This change shifts the voting process from automatic distribution to an opt-in system for mail-in ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Vermont's rules for handling abandoned motor vehicles by clarifying definitions and adjusting procedures for towing and paperwork. It expands the definition of "motor vehicle" to include any powered vehicle with registration plates, identification numbers, or titles, and sets specific criteria for what counts as abandoned based on how long a vehicle has been left without owner consent. The law increases the time towing companies have to complete required paperwork from 30 to 90 days and raises the state reimbursement rate for towing abandoned vehicles from public property from $40 to $125. Additionally, the bill establishes a $16,000 annual funding limit for towing services on public property, with no single company eligible for more than half of that amount. These changes take effect on July 1, 2023, and primarily affect towing operators, property owners, and state agencies involved in vehicle removal.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Vermont's Agency of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study on expanding passenger and freight rail service along two specific routes: one connecting Montreal, Quebec to East Northfield, Massachusetts via Newport, Vermont, and another linking Montreal to Boston via Island Pond, Vermont and Portland, Maine. The study will examine the practicality of these routes, including estimated costs, potential ridership, infrastructure improvements needed at rail yards, and operational requirements, while also considering seasonal and non-daily service options. The agency must complete the study and submit a written report with findings and an implementation plan to the House and Senate Transportation Committees by January 15, 2024. The legislation directly affects state transportation officials, rail operators in Vermont, Maine, and Quebec, and stakeholders interested in regional rail development.